Automatic pneumatic pumping system



April 19, 1949. w. D. HARPER AUTOMATIC PNEUMATIC PUMPING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed m 27, 1944 mmvrok. Wa'lier D Harper A TTORNE Y p 9, 9 w. b. HARPER 2,467,934

AUTOMATIC PNEUMATIC PUMPING SYSTEM Filed May 27, 1944 3 Shets-Sheet 2 F I INVENTOR I Y ATTORNEY April 1949- w. D. HARF'ER 2,467,934

AUTOMATIC PNEUMATIC PUMPING SYSTEM Filed May 27, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTQR VVa/Zer Dfiurper CAM" ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 19, 1949 AUTOMATIC PNEUMATIC PUMPING SYSTEM Walter Dixon Harper, Florence, S. 0.

Application May 27, 1944, Serial No. 537,578

8 Claims. (Cl. 103239) This invention relates to an improved equipment for automatically lifting liquids from a low level to a higher. level, and one of its objects is to provide a well which is constructed to prove successive chambers'with means for alternating supplying expansive pressure fluid to the chambers, to produce a continuous flow of fluid throu h the well.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an air-lift fluid pumping system, with a well constructed to provide successive chambers, and means for feeding air in alternating impulses or charges to the successive chambers, which includes a main outer casing and an inner casing spaced from the main outer casing to provide air reservoir chambers, in combination with an automatic pressure operated valve means and valves for trapping fluid being lifted in the successive chambers.

A further object of theinvention is the provision of self-contained automatic pumping system,whereby water or other fluid may be elevated from a low ground level to a storage tank,

by the use of pressure air, and air pressure will be generated in a storage tank, under automatic control responsive to the fluid level of the fluid storage tank, so that a. constant supply of water or other fluid will be maintained above ground. 1

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in certain new and useful constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, clearly described in the following specification, and fully illustrated in the drawings, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a Vertical sectional view through the well, shown broken away for convenience of iilustration.-

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a similar view, taken on line 55 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the automatic pressure valves.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a view partly in elevation and partly in verticalsection, taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing the complete pumping system.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a practical application of my invention,

5 designates a well, which is constructed in the ground and maintained by means of the main outer casing 6, which may be constructed of any suitable material and according to any system of construction.

Within the main or outer well casing 6 an inner casing 'l is arranged, which consists of cylindrical sections 1a and the couplings lb. The lower end of this inner casing 1 is equipped with a conical well point 8 and a strainer 9, which is arranged in the pump chamber I010. The inner casing is spaced concentrically from the main outer casing to provide an outer fluid chamber or reservoir space Ill. The inner casing I is formed with a series of circumferentially spaced ports ll, located in the lowermost section 1a of the inner casing.

A seat I2 for the relatively large ball valve [3 is arranged above the ports 'I I, this seat being in the form of an annular plate, which is held in line position by the confronting ends of the two adjacent casing sections Ia, and the external coupling 1b, which unites these sections to each other.

Above the valve seat I2 another annular plate It is arranged, being supported in place in the manner described with reference to the seat It. The plate I! provides a seat Ha for the ball valve 15, and carries the pendant cylinder or separating wall I5, the lower end of which terminates a suflicient distance above the first-named valve seat l2 to provide a clearance for the vertical movement of the ball valve I3.

Above the ball valve I8'a reducer 20 is arranged, the larger lower end of which is connected with the valve seat l1, and the smaller upper end of which is connected with the centrally supported discharge pipe 2|, which extends to the head of the well and-discharges into the receiver 22.

Air is supplied to the well and exhausted fromthe well by means of the airline or pipe 23, located on one side of the well, and the air line or pipe 24, located on the opposite side of the well. The lower end of the air pipe 23 is connected to the upper end of the valve chamber 23a, in which the float valve 23b works against the seat 230, to prevent the flow of water or the other fluid being pumped through pipe 23. The lower end of the air pipe 24 is likewise connected to the upper end of the float chamber 24a, in which the float valve 24b works, and against the seat 240, to prevent the flow of water or liquid being pumped through the pipe 24.

The valve chamber 23a communicates with the air chamber 25, through the pipe 26, and the lower end of the air chamber 25 communicates through the pipe or tube 21 with the chamber A, between the lowermost and the intermediate valve seats. The valve chamber 24a communicates with the air chamber 250. through the pipe 260., and the lower end of this pipe communicates with the chamber B, between the intermediate valve seat and the uppermost valve seat, through the port 21a.

The used air, which is expanded to a lower pressure, flows to discharge through the air lines or pipes 23 and 24 to the valves which will be later described.

Air under pressure is accumulated in the storage tank 28, from the motor driven air compressor 29, and this compressor receives used air from the well through the pipe 30, see Fig. 9, and

through the valves provided on this pipe. A valve 30a is provided on the branch line or pipe 30'. and this valve is adjusted to open position when the compressor is idle.

Water or other liquid being pumped from the well is stored in the tank 3 I, through the extended discharge pipe 22a. The air discharge outlet Illa is extended to the air storage tank 28, and is utilized only when it is desired to blow the well,

and is equipped with control valves Illa.

The flow of air to the air pipes 23 and 24 is intermittently controlled by means of the automatic, pressure operated valves 32 and 33. These valves are of the piston type and have reciprocating strokes in the cylinders 32a and 33a. The valve 32 is provided with a piston rod 32b and this works throughthe end wall 320 of the cylinder 32a. The valve 33 is provided with a piston rod 33b, which works through the end wall 330 of the cylinder 33.

The valve 32 is engaged by a coil spring 32', which also engages the stop disc 32" which is adjustable in the cylinder 32a, to vary the pressure of the spring against the valve 32. The valve 33 is engaged by the coil spring 33', which also engages the disc 33", which is adjustable in the cylinder 33;: to vary the pressure against the valve 33.

The piston rod 32b is connected to the yoke 34, and the piston rod 33b is connected to the yoke 35. The yoke 34 is provided with a slotted bar :2, and the yoke 35 is provided with a slotted 'bar The slotted bar 36 is pivotally connected with the cross head 38 of the main valve 39, by means of the pivot pin or bolt 38a, on one side of the valve 39, and the slotted bar 31 is pivotally connected with the cross head 38 on the other side of the valve 39, by means of the pivot pin or bolt 38b. The cross head 38 is provided with a lateral arm 380, which is formed or provided with a terminal lug 38d, to which one end of the tension coiled spring 40 is connected, the opposite end of the tension spring being connected to the 4 cross bar 40a, which is attached to the main cylinders 32a and 33a.

The cylinder 32a is provided with a side port 32d and the air pipe or line 4| is connected with this port, and the cylinder 33 is provided with a side port 33d, and an air pipe 42 is connected with this port.

The pipe 4! communicates with the pipe 43, which forms the intake of the valve housing 391), of the main valve 33. The pipe 42 communicates with the conduit 44 of the valve housing 33b. The valve housing 39b is further provided with an exhaust conduit or port 390, and another exhaust conduit or port 39d. The four ports of the valve housing are spaced circumferentially, as shown in Fig. 7, and the valve body 39m, which rotates in the valve housing 39b, is formed with two exhaust recesses or pockets 391i and 3311'. located on opposite sides thereof. The recess 33n is adapted to establish communication between the pipes or passages 33c and 43, and the recess 3912' is adapted to establish communication between the pipes or passages 33d and 44.

The valve body 39m is further provided with a transverse passage 39p, which is adapted to communicate with either of the ports 43 and 44 of the valve housing 391), and one of the outermost ports of the valve housing 33b. The intake end v of this transverse valve passage is flared out or widened, so that it may communicate at all times with the pipe 45, which supplies air to the valve housing, andthrough it to the well.

A disc 46 is provided on the valve shaft 33a, and this disc is provided with posts 46a and 41, located on opposite portions of the disc, in spaced relation to each other, and the cross head or bar 38 is adapted to alternately engage these posts, and to produce, in cooperation with the tension spring 40, an accelerated or snap action to the valve body 39m, designed to shorten the period of complete shifting of the air pressure from the chamber A to the chamber B, of the well.

The valve body 39m is conical and the housing of corresponding shape, and is held in sealing engagement with the interior surface of the housing by means of the expansion spring 48.

The liquid storage tank 3| is equipped with an electrically functioning switch 48a, which controls the circuit of the solenoid valve 49 through the conduit 48a. The valve 49 opens to release air from the storage tank 28, when the level in the tank 3| falls below a predetermined limit, and the switch 48a is operated by either pressure of the liquid in the tank 3 I or by means of a float, as will be readily understood.

The electrical motor of the compressor is controlled by a switch 50, which is operated by the pressure of the air in the storage tank 28, and when this pressure falls below a definite limit,

the switch 50 will close the circuit through they motor of the compressor and thus start the air compressor in operation, to restore the air pressure of the tank 23.

After the chamber A is filled from reservoir l0 and pump, chamber like, by the natural pressure of the water of ground contained liquid, thereby lifting the valve It, the valve 39 is set or adjusted so that air is initially delivered to the chamber A of the well. This pressure forces the valve !3 to its seat, and this will start the water or liquid lifting or pumping operations.

The water or other liquid being pumped will flow from chamber A through the inner casing, through the valve seat 84a, lifting the valve [5,

. ace-mac a and into the chamber 13, between the valves l5 and il, andto discharge through the reducer 20, and the conduits 2| and 22 to the storage tank 3|.

During this cycle air will exhaust from the chamber A through pipe 23 andvalve conduit or pipe 39d, and from chamber B will exhaust through pipe 24 and valve conduit 390. The liquid being pumped will thus be subjected to alternating impulses from the pressure air, which will cause the water or other liquid to discharge in a steady stream, while the air is being supplied to the well.

The air which is exhausted through the pipes 23, 24, 39c and 39d, and 30 and 30a maybe allowed to discharge to the atmosphere or recovered and worked over again.

The valve pistons are automatically shifted by the action of the pressure air so that air is alternately supplied to the chamber A and then to the chamber B, and then to the chamber A, and to B, in a continuing cycle, until the tank 3| is filled to the required level, or the tank 28 is charged at the required pressure.

The lag of time in shifting the air from one chamber to the other is reduced to a' minimum by the accelerating action of the trip disc, cross head and tension spring of the valve mechanism, shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.

The air line Ilia is used for blowing the well, and when this is done the valves of pipes 24 and 22 are closed, and pressure is applied to chambers l0 and Ilia: in suflicient force to clear the tween the upper valve seat and the intermediat valve seat, means for supplying air under pressure to the space between the intermediate valve seat and the lower valve seat, valves for said seats, a valve for controlling the flow of compressed air to either of said supply means, a rocker for rocking the valve to cause air under pressure to flow to one or the other of said supply means, and pressure responsive means operated by the same air pressure flowing through the valve for operating the rocker.

4. A pumping system, consisting of an outer well casing, a casing spaced within the outer well casing and provided with ports near its lower end, a series of vertically spaced lifting chambers in the inner casing, valves controlling communication between said chambers, means for supplying air under pressure toeach of said chambers, means for supplying air to the space between the two casings and means for controlling. the flow of air to said supplying means to cause air to flow to the lowest chamber first.

pump strainer of any obstructions. When this is done the. pipe line Illa. may be closed, and the lines 23 and 24 are opened.

Having described my invention I claim as new:

1. A pumping system comprising, the combination with a well having a main outer casing, an inner casing spaced therefrom to provide an air chamber between the two casings, the inner casinghaving ports to establish communication between the space within the inner casing. and the chamber between the two casings, valve seats located in the inner casing one above the other, to provide separate chambers in the inner casing, a valve for closing each valve seat, and means for supplying air under pressure to the separate chambers of the inner casing in alternating impulses.

2. A pumping system comprising in combin-ation, a -well having an outer casing, a casing within the outer casing and providing a chamber therebetween, an upper and lower valve seat. within the inner casing, a valve seat intermediate I oi the first-named valve seats, valves engaging the seats, the inner casing having a port establishing communication between the two casings, means for supplying air under pressure to the in-' ner casing between the lowermost and the intermediate valve seats and their valves, means for supplying air under pressure to the inner casing between the uppermost and the intermediate valve seats and their valves, and means for auto- 5 matically shifting the supply of air from one of the supplying means to theother of said supplying means.

5. In combination, a well having a main outer casing, a casing within the outer casing and having ports in its lower end topermit flow between the casing, an air connection for the space between the casings located at the head of the outer casing, a series of vertically spaced chambers within the inner casing, valves controlling communication between said chambers, a conduit extending to the lowermost of said chambers for supplyingair under pressure, a conduit for the other of said chambers, a storage tank to receive liquid pumped through the inner casing, a compressed air tank, means for maintaining air under pressure in the compressed air tank, a valve for alternately causing compressed air to flow to one of said conduits and then to the other of said conduits, an electrically operated valve for releasing compressed air from the compressed air tank to said valve, and means responsive to the level oi the contained liquid in its tank for operating the solenoid valve.

6. In combination, a well having an outer and an inner casing providing a chamber therebetween, a strainer in the lower end of the inner casing, means for supplying air in alternating 1 to establish communication between the interior thereof and the chamber between the two casings, means for supplying air to the chamber between the two casings, a compressed air source, and valves for the supplying means.

"I. The combination with an air lift pumping unit having separate air. supply conduits, a well said outlet ports, pistons working in the cylinders, a rocker connected with the valve, a spring connecting the rocker to the cylinders, the rocker including oppositely extending arms, and means operated by each piston having sliding connection with each arm of the rocker. w

8. An automatic pneumatic pumping system comprising, in combination, a fluid intake chamber arranged for location in a well, a pair of fluid 2,66%666 v pumping chambers arranged above said intake REFERENCES CITED chamber, valve means serially interconnecting said chambers, a source of air under pressure, ig gfig sg gg are of record m valve mechanism effective to deliver air from 1 p said source alternately .to said pumping cham- UNITED STATES PATENTS bars to pump fluid therefrom, and means includ- Ema ing a conduit and a control valve effective to (115- was? Casi fi charge air from said source to said intake chamber 1'628943 w 01 c ott 1927 to dislodge foreign matter from said chambers 1766382 Hardie 5; June 1930 and valves. 10

1,865,676 Chancellor July 5, 1932 WALTER DmQN HARPER 2,243,507 Neumann May 27, 1941. 

